Apparatus for forming- hat-bodies



UNITED sTATns rATnNT onnicn.

G. E. BEATTY AND C. S. BEAT'IY, 0F NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.-

.APPARATUS FOR FORMING HAT-BODIES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, G. E. BEATTY and C. S. BEATTY, of Norwalk, in thecounty of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new andImproved Machine for Forming Hat-Bodies of Felt Cloth; and we do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference beingI had to the annexed drawings, making a part ofthis specification, in which- Figure l, is a vertical central section ofour invention taken in the line az, Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a horizontal sectionof the same, taken in the. line y, y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the twofigures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a machine for forming hatbodies from felt cloth in a very expeditious manner and by a very littlelabor or manipulation of the parts.

The invention consists in the 4employment or use of an adjustable steamhat block, in connection with a hollow steam bed and clamps arranged ashereinafter described to operate in such a manner as to eEect thedesired result.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct ourinvention we will proceed to describe it.

A. represents a bar or bed piece, and B. is a top piece; said partsbeing connected by rods C. C. as shown clearly in Fig. l.

D. is a circular bed which is fitted on the rods C. C. and rests onshoulders a., a., see Fig. l. The bed D. is of metal and has an annularrecess b, made in it whichserves as a steam chest, the steam beingadmitted into it through an induction pipe c, and allowed to escapethrough an eduction pipe el.

The bed D. has a circular opening at its center in which a hat block E.is fitted loosely This hat block is constructed hollow of metal and hasan induction and eduction pipe e, f, at its bottom for the admission andescape of steam as shown in Fig. l. The hat block E. rests on a screw F.which passes through the center of the bar or bed piece A., and on thebed D. there is placed an annular clamp G. which has screws H. H.

bearing upon it, said screws passing through the top piece B. The clampG. is nearly as large in diameter as the bed D.

I. is an annular clamp which is considerably smaller in diameter thanthe clamp G. being but little larger than the hat block E. This clamp I.has bars J. J. attached to it, said bars being bent and crossed at rightangles and extending over the hat block E.

K. is a screw which passes through the top piece B. and bearson the barsJ. J. where they cross each other.

The operation is as follows: The hat block E. and bed D. are heated bysteam, andr the block E. being lowered so that its upper end will beflush with bed D. a piece of moistened felt cloth L. is placed on thebed D. and the clamps G. I. pressed rather lightly thereon by-turningscrews H. H. K. The hat block E. is then forced upward by turning screwF. the cloth L. giving or slipping under the clamps G. I. which press onthe cloth suiiiciently to keep the cloth flat on the bed Dfto form thebrim of the hat but still allowing the cloth to slip so as to be forcedup under the action of the block for the formation of the crown. Bymoistening the felt cloth it is allowed to stretch and conform to theshape of the block; but the cloth soon dries under the action of theheated block and bed, and the body is removed by raising the clamps G.I., the block E. lowered and another piece of felt cloth, placed on thebed D. for a succeeding operation. f

Annular pieces of metal ax, may be placed at the inner side'of clamp I.to compensate for different sized blocks E. v

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is- 4 The steam hat block E. steam bed D. andthe clamps G. I. arranged for joint operation substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

GEORGE E. BEATTY. CHARLES S. BEATTY.

. lVitnesses:

EDWD. P..WEED, JOHN A. WEED.

